Beauty Addict

Out, Damned Spot: The Battle of the Freckle

2009-07-08T09:56:00.006-04:00

Can we talk about freckles for a sec, my dears?Seems that these little tan speckles have an uncanny ability to stir up debate. Some love 'em, saying they're quirky, cute, and youthful, while some hate 'em -- the whole "red hair and freckles" stereotype is one that's always made me cringe. Thanks a lot, Pippi Longstocking.And for those who actually possess freckles, the debate is often this: cover

Two More Fab Compacts from Laura Mercier

2009-07-07T08:00:00.000-04:00

Last week we looked at the lovely Eye Mosaic in Mediterranean Sea, and I just can't resist showing off two other LM compacts - check out these beauties!First is the Illuminating Powder in Moroccan Bronze; I'm loving the four blocks of color and the gorgeous stamped design. Works as an illuminator on medium to dark skin tones, and a subtle allover bronzer for fair skin. It looks matte in the photo

Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil for Commitment-Phobes

2009-07-06T14:00:00.000-04:00

If you've been curious about Shu Uemura's famed Cleansing Beauty Oils, but have been unwilling to fork over the $32-72 required to get your hands on a bottle, look no further. Sephora is now stocking mini sizes of the #1 selling Skin Purifier Premium A/O Cleansing Beauty Oil, for the far more palatable price tag of $12.I'd been hemming and hawing over these cleansing oils for quite some time;

Get Your Swag On! I Mean, Your Glow

2009-07-06T08:00:00.000-04:00

Please indulge me this ridiculous post title, I've been hearing these hilarious stories about the Soulja Boy hotline and had to work it in somehow. Apparently, if you dial the hotline, Soulja Boy will call YOU in the morning with a wake-up message, exhorting you to "jump on up and get yo swag on!"Anyhow, I'm here to exhort you to jump up and get your glow on! Tarte Infinite Glow takes a concept

Teal for the Timid: Laura Mercier Eye Mosaic in Mediterranean Sea

2009-07-03T14:00:00.000-04:00

If you loved the look of the Urban Decay Get Baked palette but are looking for something a bit more subtle and subdued, check out the Laura Mercier Eye Mosaic in Mediterranean Sea.I spotted this quad compact yesterday and seriously considered taking it home (I already have WAY too many champagne, teal and dark blue shadows to justify it, but still, it was close).Mediterranean Sea packs four

Get Carried Away in a (Stila) Ocean Current!

2009-07-03T08:00:00.000-04:00

Last holiday season I raved about a new lip gloss from Bare Escentuals; it was the Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Polish in Ruby. Rather than cook up a whole new batch of flowery adjectives to tell you about it, here's what I wrote last time:"It's a gorgeous ruby shade, red with the edge taken off, all the juicy saturation of a berry but with none of the severe brightness. Whatever you want to call it,

Technical Difficulties!!

2009-07-02T10:48:00.002-04:00

Hi friends! Wanted to let you know I haven't disappeared - I've been having MAJOR computer issues all week so haven't been able to post. In fact, this entry is coming to you from my Blackberry! As soon as things are up and running again, I'll be back to regular posting. Have a great holiday weekend!

That Spa Smell, This Time for Your Lips

2009-06-30T14:00:00.000-04:00

Like Laura Geller, Darphin is a brand I've known of for quite some time, but never got around to trying. My introduction to the line was the Age-Defying Lip Balm, which combats dryness and the appearance of vertical lip lines thanks to a blend of peptides, rosemary and sunflower oils, kokum and mango butter, and argan oil.At $40, it is by far the most expensive lip balm I've ever used. I'm not

Preserve Your Vacation Hair with Redken Blonde Glam

2009-06-25T12:00:00.000-04:00

What you see at left is the effect of the Hawaiian sun on my hair.Just a couple of weeks of playing outside kept my highlights fresh, turning the blondest pieces even blonder, and making me look like I just stepped out of the salon, even though the highlights were already almost two months old. It brought out depth and layers in the highlights that I hadn't seen since they were truly fresh (my

Get Baked with Urban Decay

2009-06-24T08:00:00.000-04:00

Friends, I am on SUCH an Urban Decay kick lately! (Check out this recent post, and this one, and this one.)My latest obsession is the Get Baked Palette ($28). First off, the palette itself is adorable, with a brown floral, '60s mod cover and an aqua interior.Inside you'll find four shimmer-packed shadows, a fabulous 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil, and a mini Primer Potion in Sin.The shadows work really

Red Alert: The Return of the Clear Red Lip

2009-06-23T14:00:00.001-04:00

A while back I wrote a post on the best lip products to help you achieve that gorgeous "clear red" lip - sheer and light, but juicy and saturated. Well, it's time to add another product to the list: MAC See Thru Lip Color in Secret Crush.See Thru Lip Color is a gel-based stain that goes on sheer and builds easily for more depth of color. Unlike many other stains, it's not drying at all.Secret

Office Romance: Michael Kors Mini Leg Shine

2009-06-23T08:00:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite quick fixes for pale, dry legs is Michael Kors Leg Shine (in fact, I think this marks the fourth time I've written about it!). This solid, shimmery bronze stick allows for hands-free application, and adds just a touch of sheer color and shine to legs.And of course, it's scented with the delicious sandy tuberose goodness of Michael Kors. On hot summer nights, that's all the

Laura Geller Bakes Up a Flawless Complexion

2009-06-22T14:00:00.001-04:00

I've been familiar with the Laura Geller line for quite some time, but never really had the chance to play with any of the products (other than on my Sephora missions). I finally took the plunge with Balance-n-Brighten, a baked powder created to even out your skin tone.Balance-n-Brighten comes in two shades, Fair and Medium. Fair is swirled with soft tan, beige and ivory, while the Medium is

Weekly Rewind, 6/14 - 6/21

2009-06-22T11:42:00.003-04:00

Find out which new MAC polish is perfect for creating a luxe Palm Beach mani...with a few caveats. A long-lost LORAC blush/bronzer emerges from the depths of the beauty closet! Nine ways to get smooth, shimmery skin this summer. Check out MAC's latest collection, Style Warrior. Skinsheens are BACK! Estee Lauder releases three limited-edition Pleasures flankers for the summer. Eight truly awesome

Vacation Essentials: Hawaii

2009-06-22T08:00:00.001-04:00

In the spirit of my past Summer Essentials posts (check out this one and this one), here are a few of my must-haves from my recent Hawaiian escapades. It's such a laid-back place, so I packed light and focused on multi-tasking products, with a few standouts thrown in for some extra pop.1. Bumble and bumble Creme de Coco Masque ($26) Can't go anywhere without my favorite hair product! This proved

Would You Risk Your Eye Color For Longer Lashes?

2009-06-19T14:00:00.004-04:00

Last year we talked about an upcoming drug from Allergan that promised to stimulate eyelash growth, giving you "longer, fuller darker" lashes, but with some pretty scary potential side effects. At the time, 80% of you said you'd skip it.Well, that product - called Latisse - is now on the market, and I'm sure that by now you've seen the commercial with Brooke Shields, posted above.The results look

Fragrance Nostalgia at the Gap: Heaven and Dream are Back!

2009-06-19T08:11:00.000-04:00

Earlier this week I was at a half-day meeting that thankfully ended with cocktails (woo!). But standing around with a glass of wine for two hours KILLED my feet, friends. My penchant for towering heels had taken its toll in the worst way. Damn you, Christian Louboutin.Having departed the cocktail party, I realized I wouldn't even be able to make it out of the building without collapsing from the

Pretty in Pink: 12 Gorgeous Glosses

2009-06-18T14:00:00.001-04:00

There's nothing like a great pink lippie to add a fresh pop of color to your summer look! I have a major soft spot for pink glosses; in fact, as I was going through my collection to write this post, it was difficult to narrow it down to 12. Check out my favorite pink lip glosses below, ranging from cotton candy to deep raspberry, in shimmer, cream, and plumping versions. What are your favorite

Not the Holy Grail, But Close: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil

2009-06-18T08:00:00.001-04:00

I know I've mentioned this before, so forgive the ranting, but I have a problem with lip pencils.My slightly asymmetrical mouth and "soft" lip line pretty much demand the use of a pencil when I'm trying to achieve a polished, finished lip look, so I know I'm stuck with 'em. But, most of the shades marketed as "nude" or "natural" are nothing of the sort on my lips; they just end up looking orange

Cheap Thrills: 8 Drugstore Beauty Bargains

2009-06-17T14:00:00.000-04:00

Wallet feeling the strain these days? Check out some of my favorite drugstore beauty bargains, most for $10 and under:1. Vaseline Cocoa Butter Vitalizing Gel Body Oil ($7.49) is an amazing body moisturizer, and smells deliciously of cocoa butter and almond. In the winter, it's perfect for combating super dry skin, and for hot summer nights, it adds a rather fetching sheen to legs and shoulders.2

Estee Lauder Makes a Splash: 3 New Pleasures Flankers

2009-06-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

This summer, Estee Lauder deconstructs the iconic Pleasures and introduces three splashes built around various notes of the original. Baie Rose Peony, Sandalwood Amber and Jasmine Violet come in massive 8.1 oz splash/spray bottles (think Marc Jacobs splash), as well as utterly cute floral box packaging.I've been test-driving Jasmine Violet ($52) and have been pretty impressed with the staying

New Collection: MAC Style Warrior

2009-06-16T14:00:00.000-04:00

Whoa. MAC Style Warrior is quite the comprehensive collection, isn't it? We've already talked about a couple of items in this collection (Solar Riche bronzer and Peaceable nail lacquer), so let's take a look at the rest of the goodies up for grabs in this limited edition collection. Click the image above to enlarge and get a better look at everything.The five eyeshadows range from neutral to

Nine Ways to Shine On This Summer

2009-06-16T08:00:00.001-04:00

Looking for some pixie dust in your life? Now that summer is upon us, top up that tan with a little nighttime shimmer. Check out these nine standout products in varying formulations, shimmer levels, scents, and price points. I've focused on neutral/colorless shimmers for this piece, but if you're on the hunt for a body bronzer, look no further than this post from last summer, with all the deets

From the Depths of the Beauty Closet: LORAC Blush/Bronzer Duo

2009-06-15T14:00:00.000-04:00

As you might imagine, I have quite the stash of beauty stuff. And more often than I'd like, things get lost, buried, accidentally tossed, given away...you get the idea.I thought I had long lost this excellent blush/bronzer duo from LORAC, but on a cleaning binge two weekends ago, lo and behold...there it was, stuck in the very back of a drawer. Score!I bought this Blush/Bronzer Duo in Hot Flash

The Palm Beach Mani: MAC Peaceable

2009-06-15T08:00:00.001-04:00

Rock a retro Palm Beach vacation look this summer with this nail polish from MAC. Peaceable is a pearly, frosty pale golden beige, and is best paired with a tan, a bikini with fierce gold hardware (like this one), and a ridiculous beach caftan (like this one).Just watch it, though, ok? Because this particular polish, if styled incorrectly, puts you in serious danger of looking too much like a